US ambassador calls violent Israeli settlers ‘terrorists’ after weeks of West Bank unrest

The United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, denounced Israeli settler violence in the West Bank on Saturday, labeling their actions as "terrorist" behavior during a visit to the village of Turmus Ayya. This is the third time Huckabee has used the term "terrorists" to describe the settlers, following previous visits to the West Bank towns of Qusra and Bazariya, where settlers have been involved in numerous attacks.

Huckabee stated that when settlers burn cars, torch mosques, vandalize homes, and paint graffiti on walls, it constitutes an act of terror, not just a criminal act. The increased violence in the West Bank has intensified since the conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023. Huckabee's visit comes amid a surge in settler attacks, with the United Nations humanitarian office reporting a rise in incidents following the war.

The ambassador also commented on a recent incident in Bazariya where settlers burned a mosque and left a graffiti message on a wall referring to Huckabee as a "terrorist". Despite Israel's government condemning the actions of a "handful of rioters", Huckabee emphasized that the settlers represent a "very tiny minority" and urged the international community to address the issue.

The United States embassy cannot investigate criminal activity, but it can inform its host government about the need for investigations and adjudication. Huckabee met with about 10 Palestinian American residents who shared their experiences of the violence and its impact on their lives and properties.